NBA roundup: Warriors fire coach Mark Jackson

The Golden State Warriors have fired Mark Jackson, ending the franchise’s most successful coaching tenure in the past two decades, but also one filled with drama and distractions.

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, center, hugs guard Stephen Curry after Curry was taken out of the game as forward Draymond Green looks on during the second half in Game 7 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, May 3, 2014, in Los Angeles.

General manager Bob Myers thanked Jackson in a statement Tuesday for “his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago.” Myers said it was a difficult decision, but the Warriors “simply feel it’s best to move in a different direction at this time.”

Jackson’s three seasons with the Warriors will be remembered for the way he helped turn a perennially losing franchise into a consistent winner, and the bold and bombastic way in which he did it.

He guaranteed Golden State would make the playoffs in his first season, when they finished 23-36 after the labor lockout. The Warriors went 47-35 last season and had a memorable run to the second round of the playoffs, and they were 51-31 this season before losing to the Clippers in the first round.

The Warriors had not made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1990-91 and 1991-92. They had made the postseason once in 17 years before Jackson arrived.

Now the Warriors — with the help of Jackson, Myers and an ownership group led by Joe Lacob — are in position to contend for several years behind a strong young core led by Stephen Curry.

“Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we’ve had over the last couple of years,” Lacob said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples.”

Jackson is a former point guard in the league and had his best seasons with the Knicks.

Durant is MVP

Kevin Durant has plenty of scoring titles. Now he finally has an MVP trophy to go with them.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star won the NBA’s top individual honor Tuesday, grabbing 119 first-place votes. Miami’s LeBron James, who had won the last two MVPs and four of the previous five, finished second with six first-place votes, and Blake Griffin of the Clippers was third.

“Everything in my life, I had to take it,” Durant said at a ceremony in Edmond, Okla. “They’re not going to give it to you out of sympathy. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This was another case, if I wanted to win the MVP, I had to go take it. I felt that this was the year I did that.”

Durant, a 6-foot-9 forward, won his fourth scoring crown in five years by averaging 32 points per game.

Tuesday’s action

SPURS 116, TRAIL BLAZERS 92 (at San Antonio) — Tony Parker poured in 33 points on a 13-of-24 shooting as San Antonio took the series opener.

The Spurs jumped out to 29-16 lead after one and were never threatened. Kawhi Leonard added 15 for the winners.

LeMarcus Aldridge topped Portland with 22 points.

Late Monday

CLIPPERS 122, THUNDER 105 (at Oklahoma City) — Chris Paul got the best of Russell Westbrook in a matchup of two of the league’s best point guards.

Paul made a career-high eight three-pointers and scored 32 points to lead Los Angeles in Game 1 of its Western Conference semifinal.

Paul, who had never made more than five three-pointers in a game, also had 10 assists.

NBA roundup: Warriors fire coach Mark Jackson

Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson, center, hugs guard Stephen Curry after Curry was taken out of the game as forward Draymond Green looks on during the second half in Game 7 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series, Saturday, May 3, 2014, in Los Angeles.

ASSOCIATED PRESS |

Associated Press

The Golden State Warriors have fired Mark Jackson, ending the franchise’s most successful coaching tenure in the past two decades, but also one filled with drama and distractions.

General manager Bob Myers thanked Jackson in a statement Tuesday for “his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago.” Myers said it was a difficult decision, but the Warriors “simply feel it’s best to move in a different direction at this time.”

Jackson’s three seasons with the Warriors will be remembered for the way he helped turn a perennially losing franchise into a consistent winner, and the bold and bombastic way in which he did it.

He guaranteed Golden State would make the playoffs in his first season, when they finished 23-36 after the labor lockout. The Warriors went 47-35 last season and had a memorable run to the second round of the playoffs, and they were 51-31 this season before losing to the Clippers in the first round.

The Warriors had not made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1990-91 and 1991-92. They had made the postseason once in 17 years before Jackson arrived.

Now the Warriors — with the help of Jackson, Myers and an ownership group led by Joe Lacob — are in position to contend for several years behind a strong young core led by Stephen Curry.

“Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we’ve had over the last couple of years,” Lacob said in a statement. “Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples.”

Jackson is a former point guard in the league and had his best seasons with the Knicks.

Durant is MVP

Kevin Durant has plenty of scoring titles. Now he finally has an MVP trophy to go with them.

The Oklahoma City Thunder star won the NBA’s top individual honor Tuesday, grabbing 119 first-place votes. Miami’s LeBron James, who had won the last two MVPs and four of the previous five, finished second with six first-place votes, and Blake Griffin of the Clippers was third.

“Everything in my life, I had to take it,” Durant said at a ceremony in Edmond, Okla. “They’re not going to give it to you out of sympathy. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This was another case, if I wanted to win the MVP, I had to go take it. I felt that this was the year I did that.”

Durant, a 6-foot-9 forward, won his fourth scoring crown in five years by averaging 32 points per game.

Tuesday’s action

SPURS 116, TRAIL BLAZERS 92 (at San Antonio) — Tony Parker poured in 33 points on a 13-of-24 shooting as San Antonio took the series opener.

The Spurs jumped out to 29-16 lead after one and were never threatened. Kawhi Leonard added 15 for the winners.

LeMarcus Aldridge topped Portland with 22 points.

Late Monday

CLIPPERS 122, THUNDER 105 (at Oklahoma City) — Chris Paul got the best of Russell Westbrook in a matchup of two of the league’s best point guards.

Paul made a career-high eight three-pointers and scored 32 points to lead Los Angeles in Game 1 of its Western Conference semifinal.

Paul, who had never made more than five three-pointers in a game, also had 10 assists.